Over the years I have been looking for healthier recipes to enjoy as either a side or entree. Here are a few recipes that I have enjoyed, especially during the summer months.

Deconstructed Guacamole Salad

I found this recipe when I was looking for something to make with ripe avocados. I didn’t want to do my usual quick-prep of cutting them up and adding to my basic salad. I love guacamole so when I found this recipe I was thrilled and gave it a try.

I loved how refreshing and satisfying it was by itself. I baked some pita chips and used them for some crunch with the salad.

For an alternative recipe I would add some red onion to kick it up a bit.

I found this fabulous recipe on the Taste of Home website. Since strawberries aren’t always in season, I used dried strawberries and pre-sliced almonds over my spinach. I used the oil and vinegar but I didn’t add any of the sugar. I thought the strawberries were sweet enough.

I found this recipe as I was looking for vegetarian options to decrease my meat consumption. I figured the chickpeas and black beans would be a great substitute. The first time that I tired this I fell in love with it. It is so great that I have never needed to change or alter it. I felt very satisfied after eating it.

Getting Started

For several years now, I have started down a path of healthier eating. In 2014 I made the leap into juicing. I knew that if done properly, it would be a great alternative to certain meals and snacks that I was eating. I started doing research into the different juicers that were on the market as well as looking for experts who shared their knowledge and recipes. I found Reboot with Joe and Kris Carr websites to be a plethora of information on juicing as well as more tips on cleaner eating.

With the help of these two sites I was able to educate myself on the different juicers and which one would fit my need and budget. I determined that a Breville Juice Fountain Multi-Speed was the way to go. It was the middle of the road as far as functionality and pricing so I could get started without breaking my bank.

As soon as I got it, I started testing out a few recipes and I fell in love with it. Shortly after, I did my first three-day juice cleanse that I found on Joe’s website. His plan was easy to follow and provided the basic information as well as recipe with options for variety. I felt energized and ready to go.

Since then I have modified some of the recipes to fit my budget, every changing taste buds or availability of produce. My main staple is the Green Juice. For me, it is simple and has a lot of vitamins and minerals that my body needs. Below is my version of the Green Juice which combined several recipes and some tweaking of my own.

My Green Juice Recipe:

My Green Juice

3-4 Cucumbers

Spinach and Kale Mix Bag

6 Celery Stalks

3 Granny Smith Apples

1 Romaine Heart

Ginger Root

Turmeric Root

Lemon (optional)

I found that this gave me the nutrition I wanted and wasn’t overly sweet. I prefer more savory juices when making them at home. If I am looking for a kick, I will add a jalapeno pepper into the mix.

Storing and Taking It With Me

I saw several people using glass jars to store their juices in. I picked up Ball Jars from the store in several different sizes. My favorite size to transporting is a 12 oz Ball Jar. It is slender enough to fit into the drink holder in the car and short enough to fit into my lunch box.

I have gotten into a habit of making at least the green juice during the week. I have more energy and less sluggish when I incorporate this into my weekly meal plan.